Nutritional Labels Urged In Restaurants

September 27, 1990|Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON -- The Institute of Medicine on Wednesday urged sweeping changes in the nutrition information provided to consumers, including a proposal to require detailed labeling on fresh foods and restaurant meals.

While acknowledging that the restaurant proposal may prove controversial and may seem impractical at first glance, members of the committee insisted that it is more impractical ``to hope that U.S. consumers will be able to successfully select healthier food choices without nutritional information on such foods.``

Americans spend about 43 percent of their food dollars on meals eaten away from home, said Richard A. Merrill, a University of Virginia law professor who served as chairman of the panel. ``For many people, restaurant foods represent a large portion of the calories in a day`s diet,`` he said.

The institute is part of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, a congressionally chartered private organization that advises the federal government on matters of science and technology. While its recommendations do not have the force of law, they often wield considerable influence with policymakers.

The institute recommendations were immediately praised by consumer and nutrition groups and denounced by the restaurant industry.

Michael E. Hurst, president of the National Restaurant Association, called the recommendations ``impractical and ineffective`` and said that they would create ``an operational nightmare.``

The American Dietetic Association, the nation`s largest group of food and nutrition professionals, applauded the proposals, saying that the committee ``came up with a menu of practical suggestions to give Americans more useful nutrition information about foods they eat every day at home and away from home.``